Many seek care for potentially preventable eye problems

Do you wear contact lenses? If so, you have a lot of company. Some 41 million people in this country wear contacts -- and nearly all of them may be engaging in at least one behavior known to increase their risk of eye infections.

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-third of contact lens wearers who participated in a national survey reported going to the doctor for red or painful eyes related to wearing contact lenses.

More than 99% of them admitted to at least one risky behavior. The majority of wearers reported:

keeping their contact lens cases for longer than recommended (82.3%);

“topping off” solution in the case—adding new solution to the existing solution instead of emptying the case out fully before adding new solution (55.1%); or

wearing their lenses while sleeping (50.2 percent).

Each of these behaviors has been reported in previous studies to raise the risk of eye infections by five times or more.

The survey

An online survey was given to a sample of contact lens wearers to determine how often contact they engaged in behaviors that could put them at risk for an eye infection. The CDC collaborated with the Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) group, a multi-university group of researchers, to conduct the survey.

A separate survey was used to estimate the number of contact lens wearers -- about 41 million adults. Taken together, the survey results indicate that millions of people could be at risk for serious eye infections because of poor contact lens hygiene behaviors.

“Good vision contributes to overall well-being and independence for people of all ages, so it’s important not to cut corners on healthy contact lens wear and care,” said CDC Medical Epidemiologist Jennifer Cope, M.D., M.P.H. “We are finding that many wearers are unclear about how to properly wear and care for contact lenses."

What to do

To prevent eye infections, contact lens wearers should:

Wash hands with soap and water and dry them well before touching contact lenses;

Take contacts out before sleeping, showering or swimming;

Rub and rinse contacts in disinfecting solution each time they remove them;

Rub and rinse the case with contact lens solution, dry with a clean tissue, and store it upside down with the caps off after each use;

Carry a backup pair of glasses in case contact lenses have to be taken out.

Do you wear contact lenses? If so, you have a lot of company. Some 41 million people in this country wear contacts -- and nearly all of them may be engaging in at least one behavior known to increase their risk of eye infections.

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-third of contact lens wearers who participated in a national survey reported going to the doctor for red or painful eyes related to wearing contact lense...

Nearly a million people require medical care each year

Contact lenses are wonderful. No glasses to carry around and the ability to wear the most stylish shades are just a couple of the advantages. But they can also present a serious problem if used improperly.

In a first-of-its-kind study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates U.S. residents make nearly a million doctor visits for eye infections each year, resulting in $175 million in direct health care costs.

Keratitis, an infection of the cornea, causes pain and inflammation and can lead to blindness in severe cases. Wearing contact lenses is the largest single risk factor for developing the infection.

In-depth analysis

CDC analyzed national databases of outpatient care centers and emergency rooms to develop the first national estimates of how much keratitis occurs in the US. Experts found there were an estimated 930,000 visits to doctor’s offices and outpatient clinics and 58,000 emergency room visits annually due to eye infections. Women were slightly more likely to be affected than men, accounting for 63% of office visits and about 55% of emergency room visits. The condition was spread relatively evenly across age groups. The report was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Keratitis occurs when germs invade the cornea, the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye. The infection is most likely to occur when contact lenses are worn too long or are not cared for correctly. Wearing contact lenses overnight, not cleaning and replacing storage cases frequently and exposing contact lenses to water are some of the key behaviors that increased the risk for keratitis.

“Being able to see well is vitally important to performing everyday activities for most people,” said CDC Medical Epidemiologist Jennifer Cope, M.D., M.P.H. “Contact lenses can provide many benefits, but they are not risk-free -- especially if contact lens wearers take shortcuts and don’t take care of their contact lenses and supplies. Healthy habits mean healthy eyes.”

When patients seek care quickly, most complications of keratitis can be easily treated by an eye doctor. More serious infections can cause pain and lead to vision loss, depending on what germs caused the infection and how long the patient waits to go to the doctor.

What to do

To prevent eye infections, contact lens wearers should:

Wash hands with soap and water and dry well before touching contact lenses;

Take contacts out before bed, showering or swimming;

Rub and rinse contacts in disinfecting solution each time they remove them;

Rub and rinse the case with contact lens solution, dry with a clean tissue and store upside down with the caps off after each use;

Replace contact lens cases at least once every three months;

Do not “top off” solution in lens case; and

Carry a backup pair of glasses in case contact lenses have to be taken out.

Contact lenses are wonderful. No glasses to carry around and the ability to wear the most stylish shades are just a couple of the advantages. But they can also present a serious problem if used improperly.

In a first-of-its-kind study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates U.S. residents make nearly a million doctor visits for eye infections each year, resulting in $175 million in direct health care costs.

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Wal-Mart.com Enters Contact Lens Business

Congress Seeks to Increase Contact Competition

09/11/2003 | ConsumerAffairs

By Unknown Author

Retailing giant Wal-Mart has entered the online contact lens business. Wal-Mart, the world's largest company, already sells contacts in about 1,800 stores and is now promising quick turnaround on online orders.

The announcement coincides with Congressional consideration of a bill that would require that sellers of contact lenses verify the accuracy of the consumers lens prescription with the optometrist or ophthalmologist who wrote the prescription. It would also require that optometrists and ophthalmologists provide contact lens wearers with copies of their prescriptions.

About 34 million Americans wear contact lenses. Wal-Mart's immense buying power enables it to offer rock-bottom prices, making it a threat to other players in any industry it enters.

H.R.2221, the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, was introduced by Rep. Richard Burr (R-NC). Burr says its major goal is to require eye doctors to give patients their contact lens prescriptions. (Currently, eye doctors are only required to give patients their eyeglass prescriptions).

Additional provisions include:

Set a 1-year floor for the expiration length of a contact lens prescription and allow state flexibility beyond that requirement. (States have varying expiration lengths from 1-2 years.)

As found in the current eye glass rule: a) eye doctors cannot require payment for the release of a prescription and, b) their liability on the content of the prescription is not waived by releasing it to the patient.

Make it against the law to represent that patients can receive prescription contact lenses without a prescription.

Require the FTC to study the different prescription verification processes around the U.S. and report back to Congress in 9 months.

Define "contact lens fitting" and "contact lens prescription."

Testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Federal Trade Commission said it supports the goal of promoting greater competition among contact lens sellers and enhancing consumer choice.

In 1988, the FTC challenged advertising restrictions on eye care goods and services by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Optometry concluding that the restrictions didnt serve any legitimate purpose and were anticompetitive. The agency ordered the board to stop restricting the advertising, thereby increasing competition among sellers, and reducing costs and increasing choice for consumers.

Increased competition among sellers through advertising, however, does not benefit consumers if the claims made in the ads are false or misleading, Beales said. To prevent such claims from being made in the marketplace, the FTC sued sellers who made deceptive advertising claims for eye care products.:

The testimony cites recent settlements with two of the largest LASIK eye surgery services that bar unsubstantiated claims that the surgery eliminates the need for glasses or contacts for life and that LASIK surgery is less risky than wearing contact lenses. Our cases have enhanced the ability of consumers to make better-informed choices concerning eye care products, Beales said.

Retailing giant Wal-Mart has entered the online contact lens business. Wal-Mart, the world's largest company, already sells contacts in about 1,800 stores and is now promising quick turnaround on online orders.

The announcement coincides with Congressional consideration of a bill that would require that sellers of contact lenses verify the accuracy of the consumers lens prescription with the optometrist or ophthalmologist who wrote the prescription. It would also require ...

Cataract Surgery Options Can Eliminate Bifocals

New implantable lenses let patients see near, far and in between

02/20/2008 | ConsumerAffairs

By Jim Miller

There's good news for the millions of bifocal-wearing baby boomers and seniors who will eventually need cataract surgery. New types of implantable lenses are now available that allow cataract patients to see near, far, and in between without wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Heres what you should know.

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures that has recently gotten better. In a typical cataract surgery, a patients aging and cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) to restore the eyes focusing power.

Until recently, the only option was a fixed-focus lens, typically designed for faraway distances, which left the patient needing bifocals or reading glasses to see up close. But now, there are new multifocal and accommodating lenses that can restore sight at all distances so patients can go glasses-free.

New lenses

The new lenses all FDA approved have been available in the U.S. for around three years and so far doctors and patients are pleased with how well they work. While these new lenses dont guarantee 20/20 vision, they can reduce the need for glasses for most people by as much as 90 percent.

Its estimated that around 20 percent of cataract patients nationally are now choosing these new multifocal lenses. However, some doctors have been hesitant to adopt the new technology, owing to scattered reports of halos, glare, and problems with night vision and blurring. Because these lenses have been available for only a short time, most of these doctors are waiting for more data on patients long-term experience.

Also keep in mind that as with any surgery, lens implantation comes with some risk of complication. Infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, and an increase in eye pressure, while rare, do occur but can almost always be successfully treated.

Finding a doctor

Since the multifocal lenses are relatively new, not all cataract surgeons are trained to implant them. So if you would like to find out whether youre a candidate for one of these lenses, you may need to call several surgeons in your area to find out who uses them. After you locate a few, ask lots of questions and choose one who has significant experience with these lenses and is prepared to deal with any problems that could arise.

You also need to know about the additional cost. While Medicare, Medicaid and most health insurance plans cover cataract surgery and the traditional lens implants, they dont yet pay for new multifocal and accommodating implants.

That means if you opt for the newer lenses youll have to pay the difference of what Medicare or insurance doesnt cover, which will be around $2,000 to $2,500 per eye.

Savvy Tips: To learn more about these new cataract lens implants visit www.allaboutvision.com click on Cataracts. And for more information about cataract in general, the National Eye Institute offers a free publication called Cataract: What you should know. To get a copy, call 301-496-5248 or visit www.nei.nih.gov.

---

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior books.

There's good news for the millions of bifocal-wearing baby boomers and seniors who will eventually need cataract surgery. New types of implantable lenses are now available that allow cataract patients to see near, far, and in between without wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Heres what you should know.

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures that has recently gotten better. In a typical cataract surgery, a patients aging and cloudy na...

Mom, Can I Get Contact Lenses -- Please?

Contacts may or may not be right for your child

Between Harry Potter and the rise of "geek" culture, lots of kids today consider wearing eyeglasses fashionable, and even downright "cool." Still, the day may come when your son or daughter comes to you and asks for contact lenses.

There are some good reasons to say "yes," and there are also reasons to say "no."

According to Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an optometrist at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), contact lenses have benefits. "They can be better for sports activities, because they don't break as frames and the lenses of glasses can, and they provide better peripheral vision for sports, or driving, if your teen is of driving age,” Lepri says.

Moreover, in some cases, contact lenses improve the quality of vision in comparison to eyeglasses, especially when a child is very nearsighted, he adds.

Pros and cons

Contact lenses can provide benefits beyond improving vision. A three-year study conducted at the Ohio State University College of Optometry (October, 2007) on children between the ages of 8 and 11 showed a definite improvement in a child's self perception when wearing contact lenses as opposed to glasses, especially for girls.

On the other hand, "You have to remember that contact lenses are medical devices, not cosmetics," Lepri says. "Like any medical device, contact lenses should be used only if they can be used safely and responsibly. And only under the supervision of your eye care professional." Serious injury to the eye can result particularly if the contact lenses are not removed at the first hint of a problem.

No one wants a visit to the E.R.

Kids and contact lenses are not always the best fit.

According to a 2010 study published in Pediatrics, about 13,500 or one fourth of the roughly more than 70,000 children who go to the emergency room each year for injuries and complications from medical devices are related to contact lenses. The problems from contact lenses include infections and eye abrasions.

The reasons? Hygiene and responsibility. Or rather, Lepri says, the lack thereof.

He adds that it’s essential for all people who wear contact lenses to follow their eye care professional's advice "to the letter." That means observing basic hygienic precautions, such as:

Not taking the necessary safety precautions can result in ulcers of the cornea (the front of the eye that shields it from germs, dust, and other harmful material) and even blindness. "Even an experienced lens wearer can scratch a cornea while putting in or taking out a lens," Lepri says.

What about young kids and contacts?

"Eye care professionals typically don't recommend contacts for kids until they are 12 or 13, because the risks are often greater than the benefits for younger children," Lepri says.

But, he adds, age isn't the only issue -- it's also a question of maturity. Lepri suggests that parents who are considering contacts for their kids take a look at how well they handle other responsibilities, especially personal hygiene. "It takes vigilance on the part of the parents," he says. "You need to constantly be looking over your child’s shoulder."

As many an eye care professional can attest, kids find all sorts of ways to be less than hygienic. Common behaviors include wearing another child's lens, using saliva to moisten a lens, and wearing decorative lenses purchased from flea markets, beauty supply stores, the Internet and other sources. Even a lens without corrective power is still a medical device and has all the risks other contact lenses do, says Lepri.

Extended wear lenses are generally not recommended by eye care professionals for kids and teens and can increase the incidence of corneal ulcers, which can lead to permanent loss of vision. Although a bit more expensive, daily disposable lenses can reduce some of the risks since the wearer is using a new pair of lenses every day.

Children with seasonal allergies are usually not good candidates for wearing contact lenses. The lenses may only increase the itching and burning caused by their allergies.

More tips for safe lens wearing

Other tips include:

Don't sleep with your contact lenses in unless they are specifically approved for overnight use, says Lepri. Overnight use of daily wear lenses dramatically increases the risk of corneal ulcer, even with just one night's wear.

When playing sports, wear safety goggles or glasses over your lenses.

Always have a pair of back-up glasses handy.

"It's easy to impress upon kids the dangers of unsafe driving," Lepri says. But the potential perils of contact lens wearing are harder to get across. "Kids think they're invincible," he adds. "They just don't think anything bad is going to happen to them."

Between Harry Potter and the rise of "geek" culture, lots of kids today consider wearing eyeglasses fashionable, and even downright "cool." Still, the day may come when your son or daughter comes to you and asks for contact lenses.

There are some good reasons to say "yes," and there are also reasons to say "no."

According to Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an optometrist at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), contact lenses have benefits. "They can be be...

Be very careful -- you have only one pair of eyes

Wouldn’t it be cool to have Twilight vampire eyes for Halloween? Or deep violet eyes to match your purple sweater? How about your favorite sports team’s logo on your eyes just for fun?

You can have all of these looks with decorative contact lenses (also called fashion contact lenses or color contact lenses, among other names). These lenses don’t correct vision -- they just change the appearance of the eye.

They are not cosmetics or over-the-counter merchandise. They are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.

They are not “one size fits all.” An eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including:

-- scratches on the cornea (the clear dome of tissue over the iris - the part of the eye that gives you your eye color) -- corneal infection (an ulcer on the cornea) -- conjunctivitis (pink eye) -- decreased vision -- blindness

Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses.

Failure to use the proper solution to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections. “Bacterial infections can be extremely rapid, result in corneal ulcers, and cause blindness -- sometimes within as little as 24 hours if not diagnosed and treated promptly, , says Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an optometrist at FDA. “The problem isn’t with the decorative contacts themselves. It’s the way people use them improperly -- without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care.”

Where NOT to buy contact lenses

FDA is aware that many places illegally sell decorative contact lenses to consumers without valid prescriptions for as little as $20.

You should never buy lenses from:

street vendors

salons or beauty supply stores

boutiques

flea markets

novelty stores

Halloween stores

record or video stores

convenience stores

beach shops

Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)

These are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which are prescription devices by federal law.

How to buy decorative contact lenses safely

Get an eye exam from a licensed eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist), even if you feel your vision is perfect.

Get a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements, and an expiration date. But don’t expect your eye doctor to prescribe anime, or circle, lenses. These bigger-than-normal lenses that give the wearer a wide-eyed, doll-like look have not been approved by FDA.

Whether you go in person or shop online, buy the lenses from a seller that requires you to provide a prescription.

See your eye doctor right away if you have signs of possible eye infection:

-- redness

-- eye pain that doesn’t go away after a short time

-- decrease in vision

Wouldn’t it be cool to have Twilight vampire eyes for Halloween? Or deep violet eyes to match your purple sweater? How about your favorite sports team’s logo on your eyes just for fun?

You can have all of these looks with decorative contact lenses (also called fashion contact lenses or color contact lenses, among other names). These lenses don’t correct vision -- they just change the appearance of the eye.

These experts warn that buying any kind of contact lenses
without an examination and a prescription from an eye care
professional can cause serious eye disorders and infections, which
may lead to permanent vision loss. Even though it's illegal to sell
decorative contact lenses without a valid prescription, the lenses
are sold on the Internet and in retail shops and salons --
particularly around Halloween.

The decorative lenses make the wearer's eyes appear to glow in
the dark, create the illusion of vertical "cat eyes," or change the
wearer's eye color.

Safe costumes

"Although unauthorized use of decorative contact lenses is a
concern year-round, Halloween is the time when people may be
inclined to use them, perhaps as costume accessories," says FDA eye
expert Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed. "What troubles us is when
they are bought and used without a valid prescription, without the
involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without
appropriate follow-up care. This can lead to significant risks of
eye injuries, including blindness."

Wear costumes made of fire-retardant materials; look for "flame
resistant" on the label. If you make your costume, use
flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.

Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective
tape so you'll be more visible; make sure the costumes aren't so
long that you're in danger of tripping.

Wear makeup and hats rather than masks that can obscure your
vision.

Test the makeup you plan to use by putting a small amount on
your arm a couple of days in advance. If you get a rash, redness,
swelling, or other signs of irritation where you applied it, that's
a sign you may be allergic to it.

Check FDA's list of color additives to see if additives in your
makeup are FDA approved. If they aren't approved for their intended
use, don't use it.

Don't wear decorative contact lenses unless you have seen an
eye care professional and gotten a proper lens fitting and
instructions for using the lenses.

Safe treats

Eating sweet treats is also a big part of the fun on Halloween.
If you're trick-or-treating, health and safety experts say you
should remember these tips:

Don't eat candy until it has been inspected at home.

Trick-or-treaters should eat a snack before heading out, so
they won't be tempted to nibble on treats that haven't been
inspected.

Tell children not to accept -- or eat -- anything that isn't
commercially wrapped.

Parents of very young children should remove any choking
hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.

Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering,
such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or
tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

For partygoers and party throwers, FDA recommends the following
tips for two seasonal favorites:

Look for the warning label to avoid juice that hasn't been
pasteurized or otherwise processed, especially packaged juice
products that may have been made on site. When in doubt, ask!
Always ask if you are unsure if a juice product is pasteurized.
Normally, the juice found in your grocer's frozen food case,
refrigerated section, or on the shelf in boxes, bottles, or cans is
pasteurized.

Before bobbing for apples -- a favorite Halloween game --
reduce the amount of bacteria that might be on apples by thoroughly
rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use
a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

Whether you're goblin or ghoul, vampire or witch, poor costume
choices -- including decorative contact lenses and flammable
costumes -- can haunt you long after Halloween if they cause
injury.

With Halloween approaching, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) joins
eye care professionals in discouraging the use of decorative
contact lenses.

These experts warn that buying any kind of contact lenses
without an examination and a prescription from an eye care
professional can ...

Thereâ€™s a Threat on America's Highways You May Not Be Aware of

Would you believe that more than 90% of the decisions and reactions we make behind the wheel depend on good vision?

If so, you'll be shocked to learn that a recent survey reveals a disturbing fact -- one in five eyeglass wearers sometimes drive without their prescription glasses. Instead, they wear non-prescription sunglasses, quickly making daytime driving unnecessarily treacherous.

Most of us think that driving in a bright, sunny day is better than driving at night or in the rain. The reality is that blinding glare from sun, snow and other vehicles is a significant contributing factor to fatal auto accidents.

Kim Schuy is Senior Global Director of Marketing for Essilor, the leadingmanufacturer of optical lenses in the United States. She says thatonly one-third of eyeglass wearers have prescription sunglasses with polarized lenses.

"As our roadways heat up this winter and glare from the sun and snow increases, it's critical that consumers discuss with their eye-care professional the life-saving benefits of prescription, polarized lenses," Schuy said.

Trouble seeing while driving on sunny and snowy days is very common among glasses wearers. However, 60% of those with prescription sunglasses, particularly those with polarized lenses, experience less trouble.

A clinical study conducted by Essilor as a precursor to the survey found that driver reaction times improve by one-third of a second for drivers who wear polarized lenses.

For a car traveling 50 miles per hour, one-third of a second allows a driver to stop 23 feet sooner, or the length of an intersection. In glare-intense situations, polarized lenses improve vision clarity by 75%, as opposed to ordinary sun lenses.

Would you believe that more than 90% of the decisions and reactions we make behind the wheel depend on good vision?

If so, you'll be shocked to learn that a recent survey reveals a disturbing fact -- one in five eyeglass wearers sometimes drive without their prescription glasses. Instead, they wear non-prescription sunglasses, quickly making daytime driving unnecessarily treacherous.

Most of us think that driving in a bright, sunny day is better than driving at night or ...

Optometrists Take Exception

... It's still a good idea to see an ophthalmologist -- an M.D. who specializes in the eye -- for an annual eye exam. It's essential that anyone with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma get a full exam by an M.D. at least annually.

We think this is pretty conservative advice. The eye, after all, is the window to a lot more than the soul. It offers an up-close and personal view of one's nervous and circulatory system and an examination of the eye by a skilled physician can provide early warnings of many diseases, conditions and complications.

Optometrists are not M.D.'s. They are trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision, not to diagnose or treat disease. Ophthalmologists are M.D.'s with additional training in diseases of the eye. Most are surgeons as well as diagnosticians.

Despite the rather mad rantings of the optometrists below, we stick by our advice that it is a "good idea" to see an ophthalmologist at least occasionally, especially as one ages. This doesn't rule out getting your glasses or contacts fitted by an optometrist.

Herewith the optometric profession presents its side of the story. We must preface this by saying that we get a rather large amount of hate mail, threats, obscene screeds and heated diatribes but this is the first time a group of supposed professionals has reacted with such venom to a comment as innocuous as ours. We'd suggest the optometrists get together and hire a slick public relations firm. They're doing a very poor job of representing themselves.

Rebecca, who finds our comments "personally insulting;"

Dr. Larry Falkner, who thinks we are "idiot slimeballs";

Gene Sweetnam, who is not an eyeglass peddler;

Keith Watson, who calmly argues that co-existence is possible;

Will Lindberg, who thinks we do a great disservice;

Lee Newton, who finds it all "ignorant drivel."

On this section's home page we make this rather innocuous statement:

... It's still a good idea to see an ophthalmologist -- an M.D. who specializes in the eye -- for an annual eye exam. It's essential that anyone with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma get a full exam by an M.D. at least annually.

We think this is pretty conservative advice. The eye, after all, is the window to a lot more than the soul. It offers an up-close and personal view of one's ne...

Halloween Warning: Decorative Contacts Can Be Dangerous

The decorative lenses can cause permanent eye injury and may potentially lead to blindness

10/16/2003 | ConsumerAffairs

By Unknown Author

With the Halloween season approaching, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about serious risks of using decorative contact lenses distributed without appropriate involvement from an eye care professional. These decorative lenses can cause permanent eye injury and may potentially lead to blindness.

The FDA has received reports of decorative contact lenses being marketed and distributed directly to consumers through sources such as flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops and the Internet.

The agency says it has also received reports of corneal ulcers associated with wearing decorative lenses in excess of the recommended period. Corneal ulcers can progress rapidly, and, if left untreated, could lead to infection of the eye. Uncontrolled infection can lead to corneal scarring and vision impairment. In the most severe cases, this condition can result in blindness and eye loss.

Other risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis (an infection of the eye); corneal edema (swelling); allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit.

Other problems may include reduction in visual acuity (sight), contrast sensitivity and other visual functions, resulting in interference with driving and other activities.

Although decorative contact lenses may seem festive during this time of year, consumers should understand that these lenses can seriously harm the eye if they are used without appropriate supervision by an eye care professional, said FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan.

The FDA has issued an import alert for decorative contact lenses presented for importation into the United States that are intended for distribution without the appropriate involvement of an eye care professional.

The Agency has examined numerous entries of decorative contact lenses presented for importation. Currently, there has been no demonstration to FDA's satisfaction that these products, when distributed without eye care professional involvement, comply with federal safety standards. Consequently, these products have not been permitted to enter United States commerce.

Domestically, FDA has inspected several firms distributing decorative contact lenses, and additional inspections are planned. FDA has recently issued a warning letter to BWild Incorporated, warning the firm that it is selling decorative contact lenses without proper labeling about the risks and proper instructions for safe use.

The FDA hs also sent letters to Yahoo! and the on-line auction site eBay, alerting them to the risks of decorative contact lenses distributed without appropriate eye care professional involvement and requesting their assistance in preventing improper online sales.

The agency urges consumers not to use decorative contact lenses unless they have seen an eye care professional and have obtained proper fitting and instructions for using the product.

With the Halloween season approaching, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about serious risks of using decorative contact lenses distributed without appropriate involvement from an eye care professional. These decorative lenses can cause permanent eye injury and may potentially lead to blindness.

The FDA has received reports of decorative contact lenses being marketed and distributed directly to consumers through sources such as flea markets, conv...

New Consumer Protections for Contact Lens Wearers

A new federal law will make it easier -- though far from effortless -- for consumers to get a copy of their contact lens prescription

06/29/2004 | ConsumerAffairs

By Unknown Author

A new federal law will make it easier -- though far from effortless -- for consumers to get a copy of their contact lens prescription, enabling them to shop around for the best deal on their contacts, rather than being compelled to buy them from their optometrist. But it will keep consumers traipsing back to their optometrist for a $100 yearly exam, whether they need it or not.

The "Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act," passed by Congress last year, requires that optometrists and ophthalmologists give patients a copy of their prescriptions after a fitting and verify those prescriptions to any third party designated by the patient, such as an online lens seller.

Many optometrists have previously refused to make the prescriptions available, hoping to prevent their customers from going to discount lens outlets.

Congress was heavily lobbied by optometrists during its consideration of the measure, and those able to read the fine print will discover that in 42 states, optometrists can refuse to pass along a prescription if it is more than a year old. The limit is two years in the other eight states.

Thus, while optometrists may have lost their grip on the sale of contact lenses, they have gained an annuity that will keep patients coming back once a year to renew their prescriptions. There are 36 million contact lens wearers in the U.S. At about $100 per exam, that's $3.6 billion in guaranteed revenue for the optometrists.

Most lens discounters say the one-year limit is unnecessary. Optometrists disagree but have a hard time saying why. Dr. Victor Connors, president of the American Optometric Association, said a yearly exam simply reflects the "standard of care."

Asked if he knew of any studies that mandated such exams, he told The New York Times: "I haven't seen any health care studies on that, but I'm sure they've done them."

Optometrists' stalling tactics to date have not only caused consumers to pay artificially high prices for their contacts, they have also kept the discount lens business from taking off at the rapid pace that investors and consumer advocates had hoped for.

1-800-Contacts says it lost a huge amount of business in five states that, before the federal law was passed, required verification of prescriptions.

Details

Here are the details of the Federal Trade Commission's "final rule" sets out the ground rules under which the law will be implemented. It:

• Requires prescribers (such as optometrists and ophthalmologists) to provide patients with a copy of their contact lens prescription immediately upon completion of a contact lens fitting; • Requires prescribers to provide or verify contact lens prescriptions to any third party designated by a patient; • Prohibits prescribers from placing certain conditions on the release or verification of a contact lens prescription; • Requires contact lens sellers either to obtain a copy of a patients prescription or verify the prescription before selling contact lenses, and deems a prescription verified if, among other things, a prescriber fails to respond to a sellers verification request within eight business hours; and • Establishes minimum expiration dates for contact lens prescriptions.

The final Rule also allows third-party sellers flexibility in communicating with prescribers and requires sellers to keep records of all direct communications with prescribers.

A new federal law will make it easier -- though far from effortless -- for consumers to get a copy of their contact lens prescription, enabling them to shop around for the best deal on their contacts, rather than being compelled to buy them from their optometrist. But it will keep consumers traipsing back to their optometrist for a $100 yearly exam, whether they need it or not.

The "Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act," passed by Congress last year, requires that optom...

FDA Approves Lens Implant

Permanently corrects nearsightedness

09/14/2004 | ConsumerAffairs

By Unknown Author

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a plastic lens that is permanently implanted into the eye to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness. The lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL), is similar to the type of lens implant used to restore vision following cataract surgery.

Manufactured by Ophtec USA Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla., the new lens is intended to reduce or eliminate nearsightedness in adults, and will offer consumers an alternative to glasses, contact lenses and laser surgery such as LASIK.

The new IOL, called the Artisan, is intended for use in healthy eyes, in people with stable vision. FDA says it should not be used in people who have more than minor (2.5 diopters) astigmatism (distorted vision caused by an uneven curvature of the cornea). Unlike the IOL implanted during cataract surgery that replaces the eye's natural lens, the new IOL for nearsightedness does not replace the natural lens but is implanted in front of it.

FDA said it approved the new lens based on a review of clinical studies of safety and effectiveness conducted by the manufacturer and on the recommendation of the Ophthalmic Devices Panel of FDA's Medical Devices Advisory Committee. Ophtec studied use of the IOL in 662 patients with moderate to severe nearsightedness at 22 medical centers in the U.S. After three years, 92 percent had 20/40 or better vision (considered standard vision necessary to obtain a driver's license), and 44 percent had 20/20 or better.

One potential concern raised by the study was the loss of endothelial cells in the corneas of patients who received the implants. The endothelium is a layer of cells that line the undersurface of the cornea and are essential to keeping the cornea clear. The three-year data showed a continual steady loss of endothelial cells of 1.8 percent a year. At this point, it is not known whether this loss will continue at the same rate, or what the long-term effect of this device on the cornea's health might be.

To minimize long-term effects of the device on the corneal endothelium, FDA is requiring the labeling for the new lens to specify that it should be used only on patients whose corneal endothelial cells are dense enough to withstand some loss over time.

Other adverse events reported in the study included retinal detachment (0.6%), cataract development (0.6%), and corneal swelling (0.4%). FDA is requiring Ophtec to conduct a five-year post-marketing study to better assess the rate of cataract development, retinal detachment and other eye problems.

The Artisan lens is intended to be a permanent implant. Although it can be removed surgically, vision may not return to what it was before receiving the lens. The lens may not eliminate the need for glasses because the Artisan lens does not correct astigmatism. Glasses may need to be worn for night driving or other activities performed in low light. They may also be needed for reading.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a plastic lens that is permanently implanted into the eye to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness. The lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL), is similar to the type of lens implant used to restore vision following cataract surgery.

Manufactured by Ophtec USA Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla., the new lens is intended to reduce or eliminate nearsightedness in adults, and will offer consumers an alternative to glasses, contact le...

Federal health officials are warning that a contact lens solution made by Advanced Medical Optics -- "Complete MoisturePlus" -- has been linked to a rare but serious eye infection that can cause blindness.

It's the second scare linked to the product in less than a year.

The company recalled 2.9 million packets of the solution last November after it found bacterial contamination in three lots sold in Japan. That recall included 183,000 units sold in the U.S.

At the time of the earlier recall, the company blamed it on a water-borne organism that got into some solution at the company's plant in China. The plant was temporarily shut down and the company insisted there was no problem with the lens solution's formula.

In the latest case, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it had found 138 "culture-confirmed" cases and has interviewed 46 patients in an investigation that covered 35 states and Puerto Rico.

Ironically, Advanced Medical Optics has been exploring the possibility of buying rival Bausch & Lomb Inc. which last year recalled its "MoistureLoc" contact solution, which was also linked to a serious eye infection in some users.

Of the cases identified by the CDC, 36 of the victims wore soft contacts and 21 reported using the Advanced Medical Optics product.

CDC epidemiologist Sharon Roy said consumers should stop using the product and discard it, along with their lens case and their current pair of contacts.

The organism involved is Acanthamoeba. It can cause a serious infection of the cornea. While such infections are quite rare, officials say they have been seeing a rising number of infections in recent years.

Acanthamoeba is commonly found in water, soil, sewage systems, cooling towers, and heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems. The infection it can cause -- Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) -- is usually found among individuals who improperly store, handle and disinfect their lenses, swim or shower while wearing their lenses or come into contact with contaminated water.

"While AMO continues to work with the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to further assess the data, it is acting with an abundance of caution to voluntarily recall Complete MoisturePlus from the market," the company said.

What To Do

Contact lens wearers should immediately consult a physician if they have any of the following symptoms: eye pain, eye redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, sensation of something in the eye, and excessive tearing.

The symptoms, which can last several weeks to months, are not the same for everybody. Early in the infection, the symptoms of AK can be very similar to the symptoms of other more common eye infections but AK may eventually cause severe pain and possible vision loss with some patients requiring a corneal transplant if untreated.

Consumers who believe they are in possession of the recalled product should discontinue use immediately and call 1-888-899-9183.

Chicago Cases

The CDC was alerted to the problem by research conducted in the Chicago area at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where two researchers tracked 67 cases of the outbreak in the Chicago area since June 2003. Charlotte Joslin and Elmer Tu wrote a paper on their findings. It was accepted Friday for future publication in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

The two are professors of ophthalmology at UIC. They speculated that the rising infection rate is linked to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate to get certain harmful chemicals out of the water supply.

Since the EPA issued its mandate, doctors have been warning their patients to avoid showering while wearing contacts and to be careful not to come into contact with tap water while handling the lenses.

Federal health officials are warning that a contact lens solution made by Advanced Medical Optics -- "Complete MoisturePlus" -- has been linked to a rare but serious eye infection that can cause blindness.

It's the second scare linked to the product in less than a year.

The company recalled 2.9 million packets of the solution last November after it found bacterial contamination in three lots sold in Japan. That recall included 183,000 units sold in the U.S.

Contact Lens Wearers Suffered Severe Eye Infections

Bausch & Lomb faces a growing number of lawsuits from users of its ReNu contact lens solution, which is now suspected in at least 186 cases of eye infections in 29 states. Without prompt treatment, the infection can scar the cornea and blind its victims. At least eight patients have required cornea transplants.

In Florida, Zoe Wade said she suffered an infection so severe that her left eye had to be removed to stop the infection from reaching her brain. Wade said she began using Renu MoistureLoc last July. By October, she was suffering from a severe case of Fusarium keratitis, a fungal infection.

"The pain is very traumatic ... It's like your head is going to come off," Wade said at a news conference.

Barbara Cavallaro, of Cranston, Rhode Island, said she is suing after she was forced to undergo a corneal transplant. Cavallaro's lawyer, Peter Wasylyk has filed a $5 million class action suit and an individual suit federal court in Providence.

Cavallaro said the trouble started in October. It took weeks before a Harvard Medical School expert finally diagnosed it as Fusarium keratitis. Cavallaro said it was all because of her contact lens solution, the Bausch & Lomb Renu with Moisture Loc.

Carvallaro said her sight is permanently damaged and she'll need two more surgeries. Because of the transplant, her eyes are now two different colors -- one is brown and the other is blue. She said her vision will never be the same.

Time Line

The company stopped sales of ReNu contact lenses with MoistureLoc solution last month after the product was linked to an apparent outbreak of Fusarium keratitis, a serious eye infection. Now, the company says it was alerted last fall to a rise in infections among lens wearers in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong officials said they had interviewed 62 patients, of whom 25 said they had used a ReNu solution. Seven of those 25 patients had the Fusarium keratitis infection, officials said.

The company also said earlier this week that Renu, which generated $45 million in U.S. sales last year, had been linked to a "handful" of eye infection cases in Europe but did not disclose the number of cases.

It's estimated that a third of the 30 million Americans who wear contacts use a Bausch & Lomb lens solution.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is investigating 186 cases of the eye infection; 73 of those cases have been confirmed but the CDC isn't saying how many patients had used a ReNu solution.

Officials say that a high incidence of the affected patients interviewed had used ReNu with MoistureLoc, which was introduced in 2004.

The FDA and CDC say it could take a month or more to determine if MoistureLoc was indeed the cause of the infections. Inspectors have been examining the Greenville, S.C., plant where the solution is made for Far East and U.S. markets.

Symptoms of the infection can include blurry vision, pain or redness, excessive discharge and increased sensitivity to light.

Company Response

Although the company has stopped shipments of the product and asked retailers to remove it from their shelves, it has declined to call those actions a recall.

"Bausch & Lomb has not yet recalled ANY of its products. Rather, its ReNu MoistureLoc has been taken of the shelves. Who can I speak to about this inaccuracy?" said Grace Healy of the Hill and Knowlton public relations firm in an email to ConsumerAffairs.com.

Other pharmaceutical companies facing potential problems have taken much more aggressive measures to alert their customers of the possible dangers.

Ophthalmologists' Advice

"The wearing of contact lenses is generally very safe, but this outbreak of infections is certainly something to be concerned about," said H.Dunbar Hoskins, MD, executive vice president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

"Ophthalmologists across the country are sending in reports to help with the investigation, while at the same time making sure our patients who wear contact lenses are aware and informed."

The Academy recommends that consumers follow these precautions: • Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them before handling lenses. • Wear and replace your lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your doctor. • Follow instructions from your doctor and your solution manufacturer for cleaning and storing your lenses. • Make sure you always use fresh solution and replenish the solution daily. • Keep your contact lens case clean and replace every three to six months. • Remove the lenses and consult an ophthalmologist immediately if your eyes become red or irritated or your vision changes.

Regardless of what cleaning/disinfecting solution you use, consider performing a "rub and rinse" lens cleaning method rather than a "no-rub" method in order to minimize the number of germs to reduce the chances of infection.

Bausch & Lomb faces a growing number of lawsuits from users of its ReNu contact lens solution, which is now suspected in at least 186 cases of eye infections in 29 states. Without prompt treatment, the infection can scar the cornea and blind its victims. At least eight patients have required cornea transplants.

In Florida, Zoe Wade said she suffered an infection so severe that her left eye had to be removed to stop the infection from reaching her brain. Wade said she ...

Complete MoisturePlus Class Action Certified in California

Eye solution said to insufficiently guard against dangerous bacteria

11/17/2009 | ConsumerAffairs

By Jon Hood

Jonathan Hood is a New York City attorney who practices ...
Read Full Bio→

Phone: 866-773-0221

A California judge has certified a class action against the manufacturer of Complete MoisturePlus, a brand of contact lens solution that is alleged to have caused widespread and vision-threatening eye infections.

Complete MoisturePlus, used by around 10 percent of contact-wearers nationwide, has been linked to a serious type of eye infection called acanthamoeba keratitis. In its early stages, the infection causes redness, eye pain, discharge, and blurred vision; eventually, many victims permanently lose their eyesight. Once it has set in, the infection is extremely difficult to treat. Corneal transplant, which costs thousands of dollars and carries risks of its own, is often the only option for those who want to have their vision restored.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is caused by acanthamoeba, a bacteria found in water, soil, and sewage. The infection is rare, and usually strikes users who improperly handle, store, and disinfect their lenses, or who allow them to come into contact with water by showering, bathing, or swimming with their contacts still in.

Supposed contamination of Complete MoisturePlus led to two recalls of the solution in less than a year. In November 2006, Advanced Medical Optics recalled 2.9 million packets of the solution -- 183,000 of them in the U.S. -- claiming that a water-borne organism infected the solution at the company's China plant.

In May 2007, the company recalled another slew of solution bottles, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning that users of Complete MoisturePlus were at least seven times more likely to develop acanthamoeba keratitis than were users of other solutions.

In its 2006 recall, Advanced Medical Optics specifically dismissed any concerns about the solution's overall formula, blaming the problem entirely on the China infection. Ron Labriola, the attorney for the plaintiffs, acknowledged the China infection but said the larger problem is indeed the solution's makeup.

Specifically, Labriola blamed Propylene glycol, an ingredient found in Complete MoisturePlus, which causes acanthamoeba to form a sort of protective cocoon around itself, according to a recent CDC finding. The CDC's study even went so far as to suggest that infections caused by Complete MoisturePlus were never the result of an infection, but instead resulted from the solution's inability to kill dangerous bacteria.

Abbott Medical Optics, which bought Advanced Medical Optics earlier this year, has an annual revenue of over $1 billion, but it will be shelling out its fair share of legal fees over the next few years. In addition to Labriola's suit, the company is facing over 70 personal injury claims, and at least one other class action.

A California judge has certified a class action against the manufacturer of Complete MoisturePlus, a brand of contact lens solution that is alleged to have caused widespread and vision-threatening eye infections.

Complete MoisturePlus, used by around 10 percent of contact-wearers nationwide, has been linked to a serious type of eye infection called acanthamoeba keratitis. In its early stages, the infection causes redness, eye pain, discharge, and blurred vision; eventuall...

Colored Contacts Can Trick, Not Treat, for Halloween

FDA warns against unauthorized use of costume lenses

Your eyes could be in for some dirty tricks and potentially serious risks if you use unregulated decorative contact lenses this Halloween.

That's the warning issued today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which said unauthorized decorative contact lenses can cause corneal ulcers, corneal abrasion, vision impairment, and blindness.

"Although unauthorized use of decorative contact lenses is a concern year-round, Halloween is the time when people may be inclined to use them, perhaps as costume accessories," said James Saviola, the Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices network leader in FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "What troubles us is when they are bought and used without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care."

Decorative contact lenses -- which can change the color of eyes or give them such weird appearances as "eye-of-the-tiger" or zebra looks -- are regulated by the FDA. But the agency has learned some beauty salons, video stores, flea markets, records stores, convenience stores, beach shops, and online vendors have sold those types of lenses to consumers without valid prescriptions.

The over-the-counter sale of decorative contact lenses, however, is now illegal under recent legislation, according to the FDA.

The agency said consumers who want to safely use decorative contact lenses -- without fears of damaging their eyes -- should:

• Get an eye exam from a licensed eye care professional, even if you feel your vision is perfect;

• Get a valid prescription that includes the brand and lens dimensions;

• Buy the lenses from an eye care professional or a vendor who requires that you provide prescription information for the lenses;

• Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye care professional for follow-up eye exams.

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